Czech Masters

Jiri
Trnka's Film Collection. An AWN exclusive: A two tape
collection from one of the greatest puppet animators the world
has ever seen. -"Emperor's
Nightingale", a puppet animation classic. - "Jiri
Trnka's Shorts" featuring his last, and most famous work,
"The Hand," a darkly humorous allegory on totalitarianism which
won a number of international awards.



"Alice"
by Jan Svankmajer: His masterpiece, a personal interpretation
of "Alice in Wonderland" that remains true to the absurdity of
Lewis Carroll's original, but bears the stamp of Svankmajer's
own distinctive style and obsessions.

American Independents

"Death
Laughs Among Us," a collection of John Schnall's
slightly warped short films. Seven of this filmmaker's wildly
inventive animated films, from the blistering showman-from-hell
cynicism of "Buy My Film!" to the surrealistic child-rearing techniques
of "Frankenstein."



Another AWN exclusive: Karen
Aqua's films' collection. Her films have developed a strong
following after appearing in virtually every major animation festival
during the past decade. Her work explores the themes of transformation,
journeys, myth, and the human spirit.